Fun to be Dead

Fun to be Dead: The Poems of Bob Flanagan
EditorSabrina Tarasoff
AuthorBob Flanagan
Cover artistLauren Graycar (designer)
LanguageEnglish
GenrePoetry, memoir, BDSM writing
Published2024
PublisherKristina Kite Gallery / Pep Talk
Publication placeUnited States
Media typePrint (softcover)
Pages176
First complete collection of Flanagan's poetry.

Fun to be Dead: The Poems of Bob Flanagan is a posthumous poetry collection by Bob Flanagan, the American performance artist and writer. The collection features six books, within one volume, that document Flanagan's evolution as a poet and writer, as well as contributions by Jack Skelley, Sheree Rose, Chiara Moioli, David Trinidad, Dodie Bellamy, and Dennis Cooper.[1][2]

Background

Flanagan suffered from cystic fibrosis throughout his life, a disease that claimed the lives of two of his sisters.[3] Doctors expected him not to live past the age of seven, though he died at age 43.[1] By his late thirties, Flanagan had to hospitalize himself before and after his performances.[4]

A lifelong interest in BDSM became an obsession in both Flanagan's life and work, an obsession that was explored and managed with his wife Sheree Rose, a dominatrix.[4]

In 2022, a posthumous showing of Flanagan's work, titled "Flanagan's Wake" after Dennis Cooper's eulogy, premiered at the Kristina Kite Gallery in Los Angeles.[5]

Books

Fun to be Dead is one volume, organized into six sections (or "books"), with essays and critical commentaries included.[6] These books are:

  • The Kid is the Man (1978)
  • The Wedding of Everything (1983)
  • Slave Sonnets (1986)
  • Fuck Journal (1987) — originally Hanuman Books #13[7]
  • A Taste of Honey (with David Trinidad) (1990) — originally a Sherwood Press collaboration
  • The Book of Medicine — Flanagan's unfinished manuscript

Citations

  1. ^ a b Lafarge, Daisy (11 July 2024). "The Poetry of Bob Flanagan: 'The Realm of Clown or Seer'". Frieze. Retrieved 6 May 2026.
  2. ^ Athey, Ron (October 2024). "Bleeding Heart". Artforum. Vol. 63, no. 2. Retrieved 6 May 2026.
  3. ^ McRuer, Robert (2006). Crip Theory: Cultural Signs of Queerness and Disability. New York: NYU Press. p. 187. ISBN 9780814761090.
  4. ^ a b Cooper, Dennis (April 1996). "Flanagan's Wake". Artforum. Vol. 34, no. 8. pp. 78–81, 126.
  5. ^ Griffin, Jonathan (26 September 2022). "Flanagan's Wake at Kristina Kite Gallery, Los Angeles". ArtReview. Retrieved 6 May 2026.
  6. ^ "Fun to be Dead: The Poems of Bob Flanagan". Pep Talk. Retrieved 6 May 2026.
  7. ^ Tarasoff, Sabrina (30 May 2024). "Calisthenics: Bob Flanagan's Fuck Journal, from Fun to be Dead. The Poems of Bob Flanagan". Mousse Magazine. Retrieved 6 May 2026.

Content Disclaimer

Informasi ini disarikan dari Wikipedia dan disajikan kembali untuk tujuan edukasi. Konten tersedia di bawah lisensi CC BY-SA 3.0. Kami tidak bertanggung jawab atas ketidakakuratan data yang bersumber dari kontribusi publik tersebut.

  1. The information displayed on this website is sourced in part or in whole from Wikipedia and has been adapted for the purpose of restating it. We strive to provide accurate and relevant information, however:
  2. There is no guarantee of absolute accuracy. Wikipedia is an open, collaborative project that can be edited by anyone, so information is subject to change.
  3. It is not intended to constitute professional advice. The content displayed is for informational and educational purposes only. For important decisions (e.g., medical, legal, or financial), please consult a professional.
  4. Content copyright. Wikipedia is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License (CC BY-SA). This means that content may be reused with appropriate attribution and shared under a similar license.
  5. Responsible use. Any risk arising from the use of information from this website is entirely the responsibility of the user.